An outline application was approved for the land off Worlington Road in Mildenhall by Forest Heath’s development control committee on Wednesday, with detailed plans to follow in the coming months.

The parish councils of Mildenhall, Barton Mills and Worlington all objected to the application on issues such as increased traffic and the fact it would lessen the gap between Mildenhall and surrounding villages.

However, the majority of councillors – including Mildenhall Parish Council chairman John Bloodworth, who sits on the panel – voted to approve the plans.

David Bowman said: “We do need the housing and its been identified in our system that we will look for housing there.”

The 30mph limit along Worlington Road will be extended past the entrance to the new development.

However, there were calls to impose the limit all the way to Worlington, with the existing plans having the national speed limit in place along a stretch of road only a third of a mile long.

Local district councillor Tony Wheble, who voted against the plans, said: “That road is dangerous and I’m sorry, if they’re going to do a 30mph limit, why the heck not do it all the way to Worlington? Not just that few more yards.

“There are three parish councils there – not one, but three – all saying ‘no way should this be allowed’.”

Developers Trumpington Land will pay for a pedestrian crossing across Worlington Road to improve pedestrian access into Mildenhall town centre.

Worlington parish councillor Rupert Osborn spoke against the plans, saying the village had seen a 60% increase in traffic through the village in recent years due to expansion in the area.

Jake Nugent, a planning consultant from the application’s agents, Bidwells, said he was “very aware of the parish councils’ concerns on highways”.

He added: “Additional work has been done to further reduce the speed limit along Worlington Road, and a full commitment made to provide a full-length footpath and pedestrian crossing.”